Wildlife advocates in Massachusetts have a chance to speak up in person for sea turtles and other wildlife that depend on us making the switch to clean energy.

Sea turtles swimming in the Atlantic Ocean face an uncertain
future, because of climate change, which harms the beaches where they nest. Advocating for clean offshore wind energy in the Atlantic is critical to reducing the carbon pollution that drives the climate change harming wildlife.

Advocates in Massachusetts are attending three important public hearings to voice their support for offshore wind, and will make sure that decision-makers, the media and local communities are reminded that this offshore wind project has had long
and careful scrutiny for many issues including the safety of wildlife.

The public hearings are being held by Massachusetts’ Department of Public Utilities (DPU) on NSTAR’s contract to purchase 27 ½% of the power generated by the Cape Wind. In 2010, the DPU approved National Grid’s contract to purchase 50% of Cape Wind’s power – taken together, these two contracts allow Cape Wind to move forward toward construction.

Cape Wind is seeking to build 130 wind turbines on Horseshoe Shoal in
Nantucket Sound in order to generate up to 420 megawatts of clean,
renewable energy. In average winds, Cape Wind will provide three
quarters of the Cape and Islands electricity needs.

The hearings are an important opportunity to show your support and help offshore wind cross the finish line.

Voicing Support for Offshore Wind

The top points for Massachusetts wildlife advocates to make at the public hearings in support of offshore wind:

I support offshore wind energy development off the coast of Massachusetts and am glad to see the Cape Wind project finally moving toward the finish line.

Offshore wind projects can and must be sited and designed carefully to
ensure they do not harm coastal and marine wildlife, and this project
has gone through the necessary extensive environmental review process to make sure it is wildlife-friendly--and has the support of the National Wildlife Federation.

I am glad to see NSTAR step up and agree to purchase Cape Wind’s power in order to bring this critical clean energy ashore, and strongly urge the Department of Public Utilities to approve this contract.

I am concerned about the environmental impacts of our dependence on fossil fuels, including mercury and carbon pollution, and want to see Massachusetts pursue renewable energy like offshore wind to meet our energy needs.

Every dollar we spend on energy in Massachusetts goes out of state to purchase the coal and gas we rely on – missing a tremendous job creation opportunity right here in the Commonwealth. Offshore wind presents a compelling opportunity to power our homes and businesses with local, job-producing energy.

We can no longer afford to ignore the offshore wind energy resource sitting right off our coast here in Massachusetts.

Opponents to Cape Wind try to mislead the public by falsely claiming this contract will cause electric bills to ‘skyrocket’ – the reality is the bill impact will be about one dollar a month for a typical residential customer and no more than a 1% to 2% bill increase for any NSTAR customer.

Let us Know You Can Attend

Email us at info@nwa.org to let us know you can attend a hearing. We will follow-up with you and help you voice your support for clean offshore wind in Massachusetts.